Scoring device



June 7, 1966 G. o. SAILE, JR. ETAL 3,254,433

SCORING DEVICE Filed Aug. 9, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS' m cmwgg N J1me 1966 G. o. SAILE, JR., ETAL 3,254,433

SCORING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 9, 1961 United States Patent 3,254,433 SCORING DEVICE George Oscar Saile, Jr., 20 McIntosh Drive, Dayton, Ohio, and George Oscar Saile, Sr., 2601 Garland Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio Filed Aug. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 130,416 18 Claims. (Cl. 40-68) The invention relates to scoring devices and more particularly to a scoring device for the game of tennis which is actuatable by a player at any location on the tennis court.

. Players of athletic contests in general and in particular the game of tennis have long been plagued with the problem of recalling the exact score of the game during play. Confusion, erroneous loss of the game by a forgetful player and sometimes arguments are the result of this circumstance. Prior to the present invention there has been no solution proposed which would alleviate the problem without causing time-consuming and bothersome restrictions on the players or requiring a bystander to act as the scorekeeper for the match.

It is thus an object of this invention to provide a scoring device for athletic contests utilizing a resilient ball which is actuated by a player at any location on the playing area.

It is another object of this invention to provide a scoreboard set including a scoreboard for both sides of the game wherein the scoreboards have a representation of the score within the game in progress and changes in score are tallied by a player propelling the game ball against the target portion of his respective scoreboard.

It is a. further object of this invention to provide a scoring device wherein a change of game score is actuated by means of a ball striking the target area of thescoring device and a mechanical score changing means responsive to the strike will tally the score on a rotatable member.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a scoring device wherein a change of game score is actuated by means of a ball striking the target area of the scoring device and an electrical score changing means responsive to the strike will tally the score by illuminating appropriate portions of the scoring device.

These objects are accomplished in accordance with the broad aspects of the present invention by providing a scoring device near the playing area of the athletic contest that has a substantially vertically positioned target of sufficient size that a player of the contest can readily propel the game ball from a substantial distance against the target and have it rebound back to him. The strike of the ball against the target causes a means coupled to a scoring indicator means to change the position and thereby the score representation of the scoring indicator means.

The contest then proceeds until another score is to be recorded with all players and spectators knowing at all times the correct contest score. The short time taken from the contest to propel the ball against the target for scoring purposes amounts to, at most, a few seconds since a player having the ball need only propel the ball to the target and wait where he is for its return.

Other objects, novel features and embodiments of the invention will be more fully described in the following description and in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention when attached to the tennis court inclosure fence;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 1 taken along 2-2;

FIGURE 3 is a front view of the FIGURE 1 form of 3,254,433 Patented June 7, 1966 the invention with the lid portion of the box-like housing removed;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit involved in the FIGURE 1 form of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a out-away perspective view of the base portion of the housing minus two sides of the housing in the FIGURE 1 form of. the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a front view of the second form of the invention;

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view of the FIGURE 6 taken along 7-7;

FIGURE 8 is a front view of the second form of the invention with the lid portion of the box-like housing removed;

FIGURES 9, 10, and 11 are cross-sectional views taken along 9-9 of FIGURE 8 and illustrate the operation of the score changing means; and

FIGURE 12 is an exploded view showing in particular the box-like housing structure of all forms of the scoring device.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated a tennis scoring device 10 including a boxlike housing 12, a vertically positioned substantially planar target board 14 for the ball to strike against, and a bracket arrangement 16 for attaching the device to a portion of the fence 18 which surrounds the tennis court area.

A score indicating means and a means for changing or advancing the score are incorporated within the box-like housing 12. The score indicating means must be in plain view of the players and in the electrical scoreboard is a polymethylmethacrylate plastic window 30 in the lid portion 22 of the box-like housing with score indicating characters 32 printed thereon in front of a series of light fixtures or sockets 34. Light bulbs 36 are placed in the sockets. The score changing means is such as to convert the energy expended in moving the lid portion 22 toward base portion 20 against springs 26 to energy that changes the score indicating means to another score.

The electrical scoreboard is the first-form of the invention and may be fully understood with reference to FIG- URES 1 through 5. The housing or box-like structure 12 is made up of two parts, the base portion 20 and the lid portion 22. The lid portion is smaller in size than the base portion and is movable within the base portion. Mounted in each corner of the base portion 20 are spring means 26 against which lid portion 22 is movable. Devices for reducing the friction of movement between the base and lid portions such as a plurality of rollers 28 mounted on the lid portion are desirable.

The means for changing or advancing the score in the electrical scoreboard is shown in FIGURES 2,3, and 4.

When the target board portion 14 of lid portion 22 is struck by a ball, the force of the strike causes the movement of the lid portion toward the base portion and the compression of the springs 26 uniformly in each of the four corners of the box-like structure. The lid portion contacts plunger 40 of plunger housing 41 when it reaches the position as represented by dotted line A. The plunger 40 is spring mounted in plunger housing 41 and the plunger housing 41 is fastened rigidly to the center of the base portion 20. As the movement of the lid portion continues toward the base portion, the plunger is forced toward contact 42. The plungers engagement with contact 42 completes the circuit between first electrical source 44 and relay 46. The relay has an arm 48, which progressively moves to five positions or terminals, operates to move from one position to the next position in response to the electrical pulse from the electrical source 44. The arm 48 of the relay is connected to a second electrical source 50 and the terminals of the relay, excepting the Gr of ground terminal, are each connected to a light socket 34. The arm of the relay completes the circuit between the second electrical source and the light socket and the bulb in each position other than Gr. This causes the illumination of the next progressive light bulb and the turning off of the previously lighted bulb. If the arm is across the Gr terminal then none of the bulbs would be lighted and the score is zero. The stored energy in the compressed springs 26 and the spring of plunger 40 return the. lid portion and the plunger 40 to their initial positions.

The light sockets 34 are mounted on mounting means 52 which is attached to the base portion 26 at a 45 degree angle. Shade means 54 are positioned between the light bulbs 36 to ensure that only the proper number is illuminated.

The mechanical scoreboard is the second form of the invention and will be described with reference to FIG- URES l, and 6 through 11. The mechanical score indicating means is observed as a single score indicating number viewed through a polymethylmethacrylate plastic window -6 in the target side 14 of the lid portion 22 of the box-like housing 12. The box-like housing .12 including the structure for moving the lid portion 22 within the base portion 20 is identical for both forms of the invention and like numbers indicate like structure throughout the drawings and the discussion.

The scoring indicating and counting means of the mechanical form of the invention includes a five sided hollow drum 60' turnable on a shaft 62 with each side of the drum having printed on it a score indicating number. The drum 60 is suspended in the housing 12 from the bottom side of the base portion 20 by suspending brace 64. The brace 64 is attached to the center of base portion 20 by bolts or otherwise and projections 66 of the brace extend at right angles from the base and parallel to one another into the box-like housing. Holes in the projections 66 alloiw shaft 62 upon which drum 60 turns to be secured to the suspending brace 64. The drum can be made of a translucent plastic material and a light source inserted within the hollow drum to aid in viewing the score indicating number.

The score changing or advancing is initiated in this form of the invention, as in the first form, by the strike of a ball against the target board 14 portion of the lid portion 22. The force of the strike causes the movement of the lid portion toward the base portion and the compression of springs 26 uniformly in each of the four corners of the box-like structure. Pawls 68 which are attached to the lid portion 22 one on each side of the score viewing window 56 are forced toward the base portion. Each pawl is in contact with a ratchet 70,. preferably with five teeth as illustrated in FIGURES 9 through 11, so the movement of the pawls forward turns the ratchets. The ratchets are rigidly mounted on the shaft 62 and therefore turn the shaft and drum 60 to the next score indicating number. The forward movement is ended by the pawls contact with stops 72 which are mounted on the projections 66 of the suspending brace. The stored energy in compressed springs 26 returns the lid portion 22 and the pawls 68 to their initial positions. A spring held pawl 74 cooperates with the teeth of the ratchet wheels 70 for preventing backward movement of the wheels. The pawls 68 are held down against their ratchets by spring 76.

The box-like housing 12 which is the basic housing for all forms of the invention is fully shown in FIGURE 12 as compared of two parts, the base portion 20 and the lid portion 22. The lid portion is smaller in size than the base portion and is movable within the base portion. Mounted in each corner of the base portion are spring means 26 against which the lid portion 22 is movable. The triangular corner structures 78 are the parts of the lid portion which the spring means 26 contacts. The movement of the lid portion is thereby regulated and maintained substantially parallel to its usual position during recoil after being struck by a ball. Devices for reducing the friction of movement between the base and lid portions such as the plurality of rollers 28 mounted on the lid portion and holes 29 for relieving possible pressure buildup in the housing when the two portions 20 and 22 move toward one another are very desirable.

There is provided four retaining brackets 80, two of which each are attached to the sides of the base and lid portions, and chains 82 extending between the brackets to retain the proper initial maximum distance between the base and the lid portions. Other initial distance retaining structures such as brackets outside the housing attached to the sides of the base portion and extending over the lid portion are possible, however, the illustrated structure is preferred since the housing is fully contained and therefore tamper-proof.

The parts of the scoreboard in both the electrical and the mechanical forms of the invention are assembled while the box-like housing parts 20 and 22 are unrestricted by the initial distance retaining means. After assembly, in the electrical scoreboard the lid and base portions are simplybrought together and chains 82 attached by means of pins to their respective retaining brackets through the entry windows 84. In the case of the mechanical scoreboard the pawls 6-8 are dropped into their positions contacting ratchets 70 and springs 76 attached to the pawls through the entry windows 84 after the housing parts are brought together. Removable covers (not shown) are placed over the window 84 after the assembly is complete.

The scoreboard is then attached to the fence enclosing the tennis court thereby securing the removable window from removal except by taking the scoreboard down from the fence. The bracket arrangement 16 for attaching the tennis scoring device to the fence includes fence brackets 86 secured to two opposite sidesof the base portion and bar 88. The bar is placed on the opposite side of the fence from the scoring device and the device attached to the fence by means of bolts and nuts securing the bar 88 to the fence brackets 86.

The scoreboard will be used in sets of two, that is one scoreboard for each side of the tennis match. The scoreboards will at the beginning of each game show no score which for the electrical is no lights illuminated and the mechanical a number 0 showing. As each player wins a point, the player will simply hit one of the tennis balls against the target board portion 14 of his scoreboard, the ball will bounce back to him off the board, and the score is automatically indicated on his scoreboard. When one player or team reaches four points, he wins the game, unless there is a tie of three points each or a deuce game, and the scoreboards are reset by striking the tennis ball against the target board the required number of times. In a deuce situation to win one player or a team must win two straight points after the players are tied in number of points. The scoreboard set is then used in the deuce situation as otherwise to indicate the game score and the scoreboards are reset for a new game when one player wins the deuce game.

It is thus possible with this device to quickly and effectively end the confusion caused by trying to recall the score within the game of a tennis match. Little time will be taken from the game for scorekeeping, since the ball can obviously be hit against the target board by a player from long distance. Further spectators will be able to better keep track of the match because they will always know the present score.

The scoreboard is not intended tobe limited in its use solely to the game of tennis, but on the contrary, may be adapted to all other games utilizing a resilient ball as a part of the game, such as basketball, volleyball and the like. The illustrated and described embodiments useful in a tennis scoring device can be modified by one skilled in the art to allow for the additional scoring positions Whic'h'would be required, for example 21 for a volleyball scoring device, in the scoring indicator means.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details I dicator means.

2. A scoring device for athletic contests utilizing a resilient ball comprising: a vertically positioned, planar, one-piece target of sufficient size that a player of the contest can readily propel the said ball from a substantial distance against the same and have said ball rebound back to him; a housing in which said target is freely movable; target edge supporting means mounted within said housing for regulating the movement of said target; said means for regulating said target movement including resilient means for supporting the target in its outermost position; a scoring indicator and counter means; a transparent window in said target situated in front of said scoring indicator means; and means which acts, in response to the movement of said target caused by the strike of the said ball against said target, to advance the position and thereby the current score representation of said scoring indicator and counter means.

3. A scoreboard actuated by the strike of a ball comprising: a box-like housing including a base portion having a bottom and at least three sides, and a lid portion having a top, at least three sides, and bottom corner structures which is movable within said base portion; said lid portions top being in one-piece, planar and the target for the strike of said ball; means mounted in each of. the corners of the said base portion in contacting relation to said bottom corner structures for regulating the movement of said lid portion and maintaining the lid portion parallel to its usual position during recoil after being struck by a ball; means for indicating and counting the score; a transparent window in said lid portion situated in front of said means for indicating and counting score; and means coupled to said lid portion for. advancing the said score indicating and counting means in response to the strike of the said ball.

4. A scoreboard comprising: a target means to be hit against; target edge supporting means for regulating the movement of the said target and maintaining said target parallel to its usual position during recoil after being struck; a many sided counter turnable on a shaft with each side having a score indicating number printed thereon; a transparent window in said target means situated in front of said counter; and means for converting the mechanical energy expended by the hit against said target means into energy which changes the score by turning said counter on its shaft.

5. A scoreboard actuated by the strike of a ball comprising: -a box-like housing including a base portion having a bottom and at least three sides, and a lid portion having a top, at least three sides, and bottom corner structures which is movable within said base portion; said lid portions top being planar and the target for the strike of said ball; means mounted in each of the corners of the said base portion in contacting relation to said bottom corner structures for regulating the movement of the said lid portion; a many sided drum count-ing means turnable on a shaft with each side having a score indicating number thereon; a transparent window in said lid portion situated in front of said drum count-ing means; and means coupled to said lid portion for advancing the score by rotating said shaft in response to the strike of the said ball.

6. A scoreboard actuated by the strike of a ball comprising: a box-like housing including a base portion having a bottom and at least three sides, and a lid portion having a top, at least three sides, and bottom corner structures which is movable within said base portion; said lid portions top being planar and the target for the strike of the ball; means mounted in each of the corners of the said base portion in contacting relation to said bottom corner structures for regulating the movement of said lid portion; a many-sided drum counting means turnable on a shaft with each side having a score indicating number thereon; a transparent window in said lid portion situated in front of said drum counting means; a ratchet wheel fastened on the said shaft which the said drum rotates; a pawl attached to said lid portion for rotating said wheel and thereby advancing the score when said lid portion is moved toward said base portion by the strike of said ball; and a spring held pawl for cooperating with the teeth of said wheel for preventing backward movement of said wheel.

7. A scoreboard set for keeping the score within a game including a pair of Scoreboards, each of which comprising: a box-like housing including a base portion having a bottom and at least three sides, and a lid portion having a top, at least three sides, and bottom corner structures which is movable within said base portion; said lid portions top being the target for the strike of the ball; means mounted in each of the corners of the said base portion in contacting relation to said bottom corner structures for regulating the movement of said lid portion; a many-sided drum turnable on a shaft with each side of the drum-having a score indicating number thereon; a transparent window in said top side of said lid portion situated in front of said drum; a ratchet wheel fastened on the said shaft which the said drum rotates; a pawl attached to said lid portion for rotating said wheel when said lid portion is moved toward said base portion by the strike of the said ball; and a spring held pawl for cooperating with the teeth of said wheel for preventing backward movement of said wheel.

8. A scoreboard comprising: a planar, one-piece target means for a planar ball to be hit against; a many sided drum counter turnable on a, shaft with each side having a score indicating number printed thereon; a transparent plastic window in said target means situated in front of said drum; and means for converting the mechanical energy expended by the hit of the ball against said target means into energy which advances the score by turning said drum counter on its shaft.

9. The scoreboard as claimed in claim 8 wherein the said drum is a translucent, five-sided drum and has an electric light within the drum for aid in reading the said score indicating numbers.

10. A tennis scoreboard actuated by the strike of a tennis ball comprising: a box-like housing including a base portion having a bottom and four sides and a lid portion having a top, four sides, and triangular bottom corner structures which is movable within said base portion; said lid portions top side being the target for the strike of said tennis ball; means mounted in each of the corners of the said base portion in contacting relation to said triangular structures for regulating the movement of said lid portion; a five-sided drum turnable on a shaft with each side having a score indicating number printed thereon;-a plastic window in said top side of said lid portion situated in front of said drum; and means coupled to said lid portion for changing the score by rotating said shaft in response to the strike of the said ball.

11. A scoreboard actuated by the strike of a ball comprising: a box-like housing including a base portion having a bottom and four sides and a lid portion having a top, four sides, and triangular bottom corner structures which are movable within said base portion; said lid portions top side being the target for the strike of the ball; means mounted in each of the corners of the said base portion in contacting relation to said triangular structures for regulating the movement of said lid portion; a many-sided drum turnable on a shaft wit-h each side having a score indicating number printed thereon; a plastic window in said top side of said lid portion situated in front of said drum; a ratchet wheel fastened on the said shaft which the said drum rotates; a pawl attached to said lid portion for rotating said wheel when said lid portion is moved toward said base portion by the said ball; and a spring held pawl for cooperating with the teeth of said wheel for preventing backward movement of said wheel.

12. A tennis scoreboard set for keeping the score within a game including a pair of Scoreboards, each of which comprising: a box-like housing including a base portion having a bottom and four sides and a lid portion having a top, four sides, and triangular bottom corner structures which is movable within said base portion; said lid port-ions top side being the target for the strike of the ball; means mounted in each of the corners of the said base portion in contacting relation to said triangular structures for regulating the movement of said lid portion; a five- =sided drum turnable on a shaft with each side of the drum having a score indicating number printed thereon; a plastic window in said top side of said lid portion situated in front of said drum; a ratchet wheel fastened on the said shaft which the said drum rotates; a pawl attached to said lid portion for rotating said Wheel when said lid portion is moved toward said base portion by the strike of the said ball; and a spring held pawl for cooperating with the teeth of said wheel for preventing backward movement of said wheel.

13. A scoreboard comprising: a planar, one-piece target means for a ball to be hit against; a series of light fixtures supported behind said target means; a light bulb in each of said fixtures; a transparent window in said target means with a score indicating character printed thereon in front of each of said light fixtures; and means for converting the mechanical energy expended by said hit of the ball against said target means into energy which advances the score by illuminating a new light bulb and extinguishing the illumination in the previously lighted bulb.

14. The scoreboard as claimed in claim 10 wherein the series of fixtures are in a single row and are four in number.

15. A scoring device for athletic contests utilizing a resilient ball comprising: a box-like housing including a base portion having a bottom and four sides and a lid portion'having a top, four sides, and triangular bottom corner structures which is movable within said base portion; said lid portions top side being the target for the strike of said ball; means mounted in each of the corners of the said base portion in contacting relation to said triangular structures for regulating the movement of said lid portion; a series of light fixtures in a row supported by said base portion; a light bulb in each of said fixtures; a plastic window in said lid portion with a score indicating character printed thereon in front of each of said -light fixtures; and means coupled to said lid portion for changing the said score by illuminating the said bulb behind the next higher score indicating character in response to the strike of the said ball.

16. A scoring device for athletic contests utilizing a resilient ball comprising: a box-like housing including a base portion having a bottom and four sides and'a lid portion having a top, four sides, and triangular bottom corner structures which is movable within said base portion; said lid 'portions top side being the target for the strike of said ball; means mounted in each of the corners of the said base portion in contacting relation to said triangular structures for regulating the movement of said lid portion; means for indicating the score; a plastic window in said lid portion situated in front of said means for indicating the score; a first electrical source of cur- 8 rent; a spring mounted plunger electrically connected to said first current source closely spaced from the target side within said lid portion; an electrical contact normally spaced from said plunger for contacting said plunger when the strike of said ball moves said lid portion toward said base portion thereby forcing said plunger into contact with the contact and allowing current to flow; a relay electrically connected to said contact having an arm which moves progressively through several positions and operative to move from one position to the next position in response to the said current flow; a second electrical source of current; said second source being connected to the said arm; and means electrically connecting each of said positions individually with said score indicating means thereby successively completing the circuit across the said arm and indicating the proper score.

17. A tennis scoreboard actuated by the strike of a tennis ball comprising: a box-like housing including a base portion having a bottom and four sides and a lid portion having a ton. four sides. and triangular bottom corner structures which is movable Within said base portion; said lid portions top side being the target for the strike of said tennis ball; means mounted in each of the corners of the said base portion in contacting relation to said triangular structures for regulating the movement of said lid portion; a series of light fixtures in a row supported by said base portion; a light bulb in each of said fixtures; a plastic window in said lid portion with a score indicating character printed thereon in front of each of said light fixtures; a first electrical source of current; a spring mounted plunger electrically connected to said first current source closely spaced from the target side within said lid portion; an electrical contact normallv spaced from said plunger for contacting'said plunger when the strike of said ball moves said lid portion toward said base portion thereby forcing said plunger into contact with the contact and allowing current to flow; a relay electrically connected to said contact having an arm which moves progressively through five positions and operative to move from one position to the next position in response to the said current flow; a second electrical source of current: said second source being connected to the said arm; and means electrically connecting each of said positions individually with one of the said light fixtures thereby successively completing the circuit across the said arm and lighting the bulb which is connected to the respective positions.

18. A scoreboard set for keeping the score within a game including a pair of scoreboards, each of which comprising: a box-like housing includin a base portion having a bottom and four sides and a lid portion having a top, four sides. and triangular bottom corner structures which is movable within said base portion; said lid nortions top side being the target for the strike of said ball; means mounted in each of the corners of the said base portion 1n contacting relation to said triangular structures for regulating the movement of said lid portion; a series of light fixtures supported by said base portion; a light bulb in each of said fixtures; -a plastic window in said lid portion with a score indicating character printed thereon in front of said light fixtures; a first electrical source of current; a spring mounted plunger electrically connected to said first current source closely spaced from the target side within said lid portion; an electrical contact normally spaced from said plunger for contacting said plunger when the strike of said ball moves said lid portion toward said base portion thereby forcing said plunger into contact with the contact and allowing current to flow; a relay electrically connected to said contact having an arm which moves progressively through the positions of the relay and operative to move from one position to the next position in response to the said current flow; a second electrical source of current; said second source being connected to the said arm; and means electrically connecting each of said positions individually with one of the said light fixtures thereby successively completing the circuit across the said arm and lighting the bulb which is connected to the respective positions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 15,731 12/1923 Vandercar 40-285 272,184 2/1883 Anderson 273-181 X 1,346,923 7/1920 Vandercar 4028.5 1,893,278 1/1933 Eniksen 273181 X 2,076,880 4/1937 Craddock 273102.1 2,119,572 6/ 1938 Creswell 273102.1

10 Shnltz 273102.1 X

Branner 23591 Matthews 4077 Burrell 273102.2 Hanssen 177--234 X EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD V. BENHAM,

JEROME SCHNALL,

LEONARD W. VARNER, Examiners. 

1. A SCOREBOARD COMPRISING: A ONE-PIECE TARGET MEANS TO BE HIT AGAINST, MOVABLE IN A HOUSING; MEANS FOR MAINTAINING THE TARGET PARALLEL TO ITS USUAL POSITION DURING RECOIL AFTER BEING STRUCTED; A SCORE INDICATING MEANS; AND TRANSPARENT WINDOW IN SAID TARGET MEANS SUITABLE IN FRONT OF SAID BORE INDICATOR MEANS; AND MEANS FOR COVERTING THE ENERGY EXPENDED BY THE STRIKE AGAINST SAID TARGET MEANS INTO ENERGY WHICH CHANGES LIKE SCORE ON THE SAID SCORE INDICATOR MEANS. 